Mute



W. H. CHAPlN Filed Feb. 4. 1930 Feb. 2, 1932.

tages in the use of such materials for this Patented lFeb. 2, 1932 UNITE" STATES PATENT GFFIC MUTE Application filed February 4, 1930. Serial No. 425,804.

This invention relates to a mute or tone moderator for stringed musical instruments. @ne object of this invention is to provide a mute which will modulate or soften while i increasing the brilliancy of the tone of the musical instrument to which it is applied.

Another obj ect is to provide a mute which may be quickly mounted on or detached from the bridge of a musical instrument.

A further obj ect is to provide a mute which is integral in construction; that is, compri. ing a single, unitary element.

A still further object is to provide a imite of a very light, pliable material.

Another object is to provide a mute which is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture. y

Other objects of my invention and the par1w ticular features of the construction will be understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure l is a perspective view of a mute constructed in accordance with my invention. Figure 2 is a side elevation of the mute, showing it applied to a violin bridge, and

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

The mute of my invention comprises a body 'i portion l having formed integrally therewith two sets of gripping lingers 2 which extend at right angles to the main body portion, as shown in Figure 1.

In use, the device is mounted on the bridge 3 of a musical instrument, such as a violin, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The grippl fingers 2 straddle and grip the upper portion of the bridge 3. The mute may be easily and quickly removed from the bridge of one instrument and mounted upon the bridge of an other instrument.

It has heretofore been proposed to use resilient materials such as leather or rubber in making mutes. There are several disadvanpurpose. One disadvantage is that the sound produced by the musical instrument is deadened. Another is that a mute made of such materials will not retain its shape in use, the consequence being that the mute will slip from its original position on the bridge cf the musical instrument with the obvious undesirable results.

In my present invention I avoid the above mentioned difficulties by making the mute of a light-weight material which is pliable but not resilient. Phenolic condensation product, ebony or aluminum may be used. I prefer to use phenolic condensation product as I have found that a mute made of phenolic condensation product produces a soft and brilliant tone. In addition phenolic condensation product possesses the desirable properties of being light in weight, pliable and non-resilient. By making the mute of a pliable material, such phenolic condensation product, the gripping fingers may be quickly and easily adjusted manually for adapting the mute to occupy various positions on the bridge. Furthermore, by reason of its iioirresiliency a mute made of phenolic condensation product retains its shape after it has been adjusted and accordingly is not likely to slip from the bridge as Would be the case with a mute made of a resilient material.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided an extremely simple, inexpensive mute of integral construction, which is readily removable from the bridge of one instrument and applicable to the bridge of another instrument and which may be quickly adjusted to occupy various positions on a bridge.

Although the invention has been described in relation to a violin it is obvious that the mute may be applied to other string instruments. Also it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the details set forth without departure from the essentials of the In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM H. GHAPIN 

